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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 15, 2015 - 09:09pm PT
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Three days down for me. Two more really bad days, then it gets much easier. I know reading about other random peoples' withdrawal stories on the 'net has helped me a lot with getting through the hard parts. It makes you feel not alone in what you're going through, and it distracts me for an hour or two at a time, by which time the craving has usually passed.
ElCap, I know exactly what you mean on both parts; knowing you're not the only one suffering makes your own pain somewhat less painful. And the distraction is welcome.
I had a super-shitty day today (if it makes you feel better). I ran out of my sleeping meds and slept 2 hours last night, then went to see a therapist and got super-lost. I was an hour late because I got head-spun from anxiety and was stressing.
The therapist waited for me (was really cute too!) and we went through their program guidelines. I ended up telling her thanks, but no thanks. AA is free, I can go just about anytime I want, and I can leave anytime I want. They have meetings just about everywhere.
AA is really a great program. I'm gonna stick with them.
Good luck, Elcap, it sounds like while things suck right now, you have a good handle on the situation. Hang in there, and good luck!
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
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Dec 16, 2015 - 01:21am PT
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Fremont and Hollenbeck use to be a good meeting,
first 30 days you get your body back, then a year later your brain starts acting normal, the ego turns problems into emotions, so you let the old man handle fear, guilt, shame remorse, bewilderment, terror,
just like climbing,
didn't like Chuck C?
try Clancy>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Wcbw-EvHo
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Yury
Mountain climber
T.O.
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Dec 16, 2015 - 04:44am PT
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AA approach seems irrational, however Charles Duhigg in "The Power of Habit" explains the logic behind AA approach.
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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Dec 16, 2015 - 08:15am PT
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Steve - I'm pulling for you!!
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 16, 2015 - 09:18am PT
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I'll check that out Sprock, is it a church at Fremont/Hollenbeck?
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 19, 2015 - 04:49pm PT
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ElCap, you doing better? Hope so. How about your significant other MikeL?
I'm doing pretty good. Feel great actually. Day 9, no booze.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Dec 19, 2015 - 05:01pm PT
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There comes a point where retreat, or going back...is unf*#kingthinkable..were you would rather die than fail...where you know nothing can make you go through this again...
Hope you are there Steve.... Think about it.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Dec 19, 2015 - 05:03pm PT
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Solid work Johnson.
Doing well myself, has been much easier for me this time around. No idea why it's been easier, but don't look a gift-horse in the mouth, ya know? The queasy stomach was way worse this time, but all other symptoms were milder. Finally able to eat more than a few hundred calories a day now (lost a LOT of weight, over 5lb in a week).
Peer group stuff like AA can be good if it works for you, but I wouldn't cast aside the idea of individual counseling/therapy by a professional. For me, and probably most, there are deep seated issues that got me there in the first place. Without dealing with those things, long term recovery seems risky at best. Keep on keepin'on, you takin' the boy to the new Star Wars flick?
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Dec 19, 2015 - 06:02pm PT
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*
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Bluey, Day 9..Good for you. Keep up the good work.
Elcap,. I have been thinking about you the last couple of days....Happy to hear the process this time around was easier. ...Cheers..
Stoked for you guys...*Merry Christmas....And a.. Happy *NEW* Year!
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ruppell
climber
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Dec 19, 2015 - 06:55pm PT
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1 year, 1 month, and 3 days.
That's how long it's been since I quit cold turkey. No AA and no therapy. Just a strong realization that I wanted to be back in control of my own life. Like most others the idea of truly quitting had floated around in my head for years. Being strong willed I always came back to it with the thought that I could "have just a few". My few would always turn into a few to many. It was hard for me to realize that I truly wasn't in control of it. I'm a bit of a control freak, so realizing I couldn't control this was the only way for me to finally commit to a life free from booze.
After speaking to a few people who have quit, one thing stood out to me. Almost all had a catalyst that started the road to sobriety. For me, it was a DUI. I was looped and decided driving was a good idea. Turns out it actual wasn't. Like many things in life that suck this was my catalyst. After returning home I dumped every beer in the house. Well, except for two very good ones that I gifted to a friend.
Since my last drink I have been able to be a better person. A better husband. I feel better. I have more spare cash. I climb better. I think better and make better decisions. So, those are all things to look forward to. However you get there, be it AA, therapy, online support groups, or just flying solo, you'll thank yourself in a short time. Best of luck to everyone going through the process.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Dec 19, 2015 - 07:03pm PT
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Thanks Nita, it really does help to know people are in your corner. Happy holidays to you and Andy.
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hossjulia
Trad climber
Carson City, NV
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Dec 19, 2015 - 07:52pm PT
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So glad to see this post! Way to go bluering, Elcap and others.
I have a very weird relationship with alcohol. I loath people who drink too much, but yet I can be affected by a cumulative effect of 1-2 drinks a day just like an alcoholic. 4 nights ago I had 3 beers in a night with a friend who was visiting. Ate plenty of food. Also smoked a bunch more than I have in a while. I woke up sick, with flu like symptoms, and have been groggy in the head since. Cranky, ill. Just now feeling better.
I'm ready to give them BOTH up completely, and alter my relationship with how I think about folks who I think drink too much. The alcohol will be much easier than the smoke, since people tend to give it to me all the time. I'm like a magnet or something when it comes to ganga. (Stop it people!) Now coffee, that one is going to be hard too, but it just makes me ill anymore as well.
So keep it up Steve, and don't try to hide from the emotions that come up.
Rooting for you all!
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 19, 2015 - 08:31pm PT
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ElCap, nice!!!!! Glad to hear it. I did some therapy in my inpatient treatment that was good. I'll hit the AA meetings every so often though, they're really helpful and not what most people think they are. My wife and kid are the best though, especially my wife. She's pleasantly surprised that I sprang this at her, pretty much out of nowhere (in her mind).
Failing would devastate her, and I would be letting myself down as well.
Climb2ski, I'm totally picking up what you're laying down and that is kinda my mindset. My goal is no more booze, ever.
Ruppell, nice job! Hang with it.
Hossjulia, from my experience alcohol is far worse than the occasional toke at night.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 20, 2015 - 06:38am PT
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BJ, that's mind-boggling to me right now. Good for you!
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Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
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Dec 20, 2015 - 07:00am PT
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i remember when I first got sober, that there were several people in my home group that had 18 years. They seemed like demigods who had some superpower. Well, it turned out they did! It was the power to not take that first drink, one day at a time....
When I got 18 years I was like "Ohhh, THAT"S all there was to it. No wonder they got a sheepish look on their face whenever we showed awe over their accumulated time."
One day, 10 days, 90 days, a year - Much more impressive than the double digits, from a purely "don't drink, one day at a time" perspective. (There are certainly impressive things about long term sobriety too - not knocking that!)
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 20, 2015 - 08:25am PT
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Happie, I think it may be easier for us noobs in the beginning because it feels so good and new, and we're unusually motivated by our new found lifestyle.
Also may be becoming easier after 10 years or so because you've gotten everything dialed.
From attending a couple of AA meetings, it seems like all the relapses occur within the 1-6 year range, where you THINK you have everything under control, but have forgotten that you're an alcoholic and one drink ALWAYS leads to more and more and more, until you're a drunk again.
It something for us noobs to keep in mind. We have to give it up. Forever. At least I do. I cannot have just one drink or one glass, I am powerless to it. So I just have to say, "No thanks"
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Dec 20, 2015 - 10:39am PT
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I'd encourage you to do a little reading in the "Sobriety: off topic?" thread. Lots of people sharing their experiences, and it definitely helped me when I quit the booze. If nothing else, it will let you know what to expect and that you're far, far from alone in these things.
I was similar to the above story, decided I was going to quit and skipped the therapy/AA/etc. Luckily, I'm REAL hard-headed, and made it stick. BUT, and this is a big one, I didn't really address the underlying problems at that time. And that just led me to eventually substitute other substances in place of the booze. So if I had it to do over again, I'd have gone to some kind of therapy.
While you're here, Blue, question for you:
I put a new set of pickups in an SG recently, swapped the old shitty stock 490R/490T combo for a '57 Classic/'57 Classic Plus pair. I'm not good at soldering, but managed. But now, my bridge pickup randomly fades in volume after playing it a bit or cuts off altogether. Neck pickup is fine. Seems totally bizarre, and before I yank all the pots and caps and start with fresh ones (didn't upgrade the pots when I switched pups), any idea what would cause that? Bad caps? Doesn't seem to be a stray ground touching the hot, toggle switch seems fine and makes/breaks contacts as it should. Kinda perplexed on this one. Only thing I can think is maybe I melted through the insulation on the pickup lead when soldering the mesh outer sleeve part to the back of the pot and maybe the lead wire is shorting itself?
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Dec 20, 2015 - 04:30pm PT
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hey there say, all... just stopped by to say...
keep up the great work...
keep the trail towards the good meadow of fresh new things!!
:)
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 20, 2015 - 05:09pm PT
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ElCap, I'd rule out the pots themselves. I'd re-check all the wiring and make sure it's solid. Check your solder connections, pull them around gently and see if the point of contact moves, you can do this while it's on, probably best to proceed that way. Strum a note/chord as you move each connection. Listen for cracks/pops, that's a bad connection.
If all that is good, replace the caps, if they appear soldered in properly, make sure they're not intermittent either.
EDIT: Re the therapist and underlying issues? I know where/why my addiction problems started. It was from elementary and high school daze. We moved around a lot including overseas, like every 1 or 2 years. I always had to make new friends, re-socialize myself, adapt to the culture of where we landed.
In retrospect it was pretty traumatic for a guy at that age. I resorted to drugs initially, and it stuck with me for a long time. Alcohol came when I quit all drugs. But I don't see going back to drugs, I never liked them. Except maybe pot, but that is pretty manageable, especially with a full time job and a family.
With a solid family now, and a steady life, I should be able to cope. I still go to AA meetings though, just to remind myself of who/what I am.
I hope that doesn't sound too arrogant or know-it-all-ish.
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scuffy b
climber
heading slowly NNW
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Dec 22, 2015 - 01:02pm PT
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Great to see you taking this step, Steve.
I think you'll really enjoy it.
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